Clinician

A 48-year-old with long-standing otosclerosis and worsening clarity

A 48-year-old with known otosclerosis returns reporting that hearing has worsened and that speech now sounds unclear, not just quiet. Otoscopy is normal. The question is whether a sensorineural component has developed.

Investigations

Audiogram

0204060801001202505001k2k4k8kFrequency (Hz)Hearing level (dB HL)[[[[[[ air conduction[ bone conduction

Tympanogram

-400-300-200-10001002000.00.51.01.52.02.53.0Ear-canal pressure (daPa)Admittance (mmho)

Shallow type As tympanogram, absent reflexes. The audiogram now shows an air-bone gap sitting on top of elevated bone-conduction thresholds.

How is this audiogram best classified?